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In the last weeks or so, rumours have been going around regarding Virgin Wines Founder and CEO Rowan Gormley's recent departure.

The rumours are concerned with whether Gormley left his post voluntarily or if he was pushed to do so. This is after Harpers, the wine and spirit magazine and website received an email from the retailer saying: "Rowan Gormley has been removed from the post of CEO at Virgin Wines with immediate effect."

Harpers report that according to a document released by Companies House (30 June), the Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Gormley resigned out of his own accord rather than being forced in any way.

Virgin Wines was originally set up in the United Kingdom by Richard Branson as a web-based wine selling comany; it was sold to Direct Wines (the parent company of Laithwaites) in 2005. Both companies are refusing to comment, which is only fueling rumours further.

Managing Director Simon McMurtrie of Direct Wines and Virgin Director Frederick Stratford are currently in charge of the company.